Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script

UNIT 1 Recording 1
Conversation 1
A: What would you say?
B: Erm, for me, an important question is ‘Do you keep yourself to yourself,
or do you tend to be around a lot?’
A: Hmm. What are you trying to find out?
B: I suppose I’m looking for a balance, because the last thing you want is
a person who comes in and goes straight up to their room and you
never see them again till the morning. You know, antisocial. I’m quite
sociable, you know, I like having friends around. I suppose I’m a people
person.
A: Yeah.
B: … but on the other hand, you don’t want a flatmate who’s always there,
so you never get any privacy. And especially in the morning. I’m not a
morning person – I can’t stand people who are all bright and cheerful
first thing. You know, when I haven’t woken up yet. So yeah, I’d like
someone who is quite sociable, but not too sociable.
A: Mm, yeah, I agree. I s’pose another question is about housework and
cleaning.
B: Yes, something like ‘Who cleans the place where you live now?’
A: How would you answer that question?
B: Who cleans my flat now? I do.
A: Yeah, me too.
B: And I’d also ask ‘Are you tidy?’
A: What answer do you want the person to give?
B: I’d want the answer to be ‘Oh yes, extremely.’ I don’t know. I’d hate to
live with someone who was really untidy all the time, that never did the
washing-up, someone that left their stuff just lying all over the place.
Someone who doesn’t do their fair share of the housework. No, that
would just drive me crazy. I suppose I’m quite tidy myself.
A: Yeah, yeah. Um, and what about money?

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
B: Yeah, it can be a big problem. I had a flatmate once and she used to
say ‘I know I have to pay the electricity bill, but can I pay it next week?’
She promised to pay and then never did. Really unreliable.
A: Oh yeah. It doesn’t matter how nice people are if they’ve got money
problems. You need to know they can afford the rent.
B: But I wouldn’t ask ‘Could you tell me how much you earn?’ I think I’d
say the rent and the bills have to be paid in advance so I’d ask ‘Can
you pay three months in advance?’ and see what they say.
Conversation 2
A: Ooh that’s really difficult to answer … I would like to think: ‘handsome’,
‘witty’, ‘cool’.
B: Well, at least you’re witty. You’re quick and you make me laugh. And
you’re good with words.
A: No, but I don’t think they’d describe me like that. I dunno. Let me think.
Erm. I suppose they’d say I’m good at coming up with new ideas … yes
... So I think people would describe me as quite creative.
B: And the second one?
A: Erm ... well, people know I like doing new things, things that are out of
the ordinary.
B: Such as?
A: Oh well, like last week I was by the sea with some friends and it was a
lovely warm evening. And we decided to go for a midnight swim. I
mean, we hadn’t planned to, it just seemed like a great idea at the time.
I like doing new things, different things. So I suppose that means I’m
adventurous … or maybe a better word is spontaneous. Yeah, that’s
more like it. I get an idea and I do it, no hesitation, so I’m spontaneous.
That’s useful in my job, too.
B: Can I ask what you do?
A: I work for a web design company. We design websites for new
businesses.
B: Mmm, sounds interesting.

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
A: Most of the time!
B: So that’s two very positive words so far. What’s your third one?
A: Well, I think people that know me would say I’m quite messy and
disorganised. You should see my desk – papers everywhere – and my
bedroom! And I’m always losing things. So yes, my friends would say
‘creative’, ‘spontaneous’ and ‘disorganised’.
B: I’d be interested to know if you agree with them. What words do you
think describe you best?
A: Now that’s an interesting question. Actually, I’d like to think that I’m fair,
you know, non-judgmental.
B: What do you mean by non-judgmental?
A: Well, I try not to make up my mind about people until I get to know
them, so yes, non-judgmental. But I’d stick with ‘spontaneous’ and
‘disorganised’. I think they describe me quite well. What about you?
B: Erm. Well, people say I’m fun to be with, a good laugh, if you know
what I mean. Erm, I’m very practical and down-to-earth.
A: What do you do?
B: I train people in advanced computer software. But don’t worry, I’m not a
computer geek. I don’t sit in front of my computer for hours.

UNIT 1 Recording 2
1
Can you tell me why you’re studying English?
2
Do you have any idea how long you plan to study?
3
Can I ask what you do in the evenings?

4
Do you mind me asking if you have a full-time job?
5

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
I’d be interested to know which countries you’ve visited.
6
Could you tell me where you got that watch?
7
Do you know if there’s a good café anywhere near here?
8
I was wondering if you’d like to come for a coffee.

UNIT 1 Recording 3
1
frustrated
2
wished the earth would swallow me up
3
over the moon
4
made my stomach turn
5
relieved
6
fascinated
7
shaking like a leaf
8
scared out of my wits

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
9
impressed
10
Awkward

UNIT 1 Recording 4
1
you tried it before?
2
I’ve thought about it a lot.
3
Has he seen my last email?
4
She’s changed her address.
5
My kids have gone out.
6
Has she phoned anyone yet?

UNIT 1 Recording 5
1
frustration fascination
2
embarrassment disappointment amusement
3
creativity anxiety spontaneity
4
awkwardness nervousness
5
anger worry

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
UNIT 1 Recording 6
A: Hello, English Language College. Can I help you?
B: Yes, I’d like to enquire about a course.
A: OK. Have you seen the information on our website?
B: Well, actually the situation is that I booked myself onto a course
through your website yesterday, and now I’d like to change.
A: Uh-huh. Could you tell me your name?
B: Maria Hidalgo.
A: And which course was it?
B: A general English course, pre-advanced.
A: Bear with me a minute. Yes, I’ve got it. What would you like to change
to?
B: I’ve just noticed this morning that you have an advanced course in
business English starting next week.
A: That’s right.
B: I was wondering if it would be possible for me to change to that group.
A: OK, let me just check. There are still a few places in that group, but
you’ll have to do a level test.
B: But I’ve already done an online test for the other course.
A: Mmm, I appreciate that, but for this course you need to do a level test
in person.
B: Erm … Can you tell me why I have to do it in person?
A: It’s because it’s a specialised course and there’s an oral component to
the level test.
B: I see. Would there be any chance of doing the level test on the phone?
A: Hold on, let me check … sorry to keep you. No, I’m afraid it has to be in
person.
B: I see. Do you mind me asking what it involves?
A: There’s a written task that you have to do under timed conditions, and
preparation materials for the oral interview.

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
B: I see. Sorry to be difficult, it’s just that I’m really busy this week and
can’t make it up to the school for the level test.
A: That’s going to be a bit of a problem. I’m not sure what we can do
about that.
B: I’d really appreciate your help.
A: Hmm … You couldn’t come in on Thursday evening, could you?
B: No, I’m afraid not. But I tell you what. I could come in on Saturday to do
the level test.
A: The problem is, that’s leaving it very late and we might have other
applicants.
B: I’d be really grateful if you could hold a place for me till Saturday
morning.
A: Can you hold on a minute? I’ll just see … OK, we can do that. We’ll
provisionally transfer the course fee over as a deposit.
B: That’s great. Oh, I’ve got one more question, if I’m not keeping you.
A: No, go ahead.
B: If I don’t get into this group, do I lose my course fee?
A: I’m afraid we can’t refund the deposit, but you could transfer it to
another course.
B: Oh, that’s a relief. Would you mind putting that in an email for me?
A: Certainly.
B: Thanks. Could you tell me when the school opens?
A: We’re open from nine on Saturday. I won’t be here myself, but I’ll tell
my colleague to expect you.
B: Thank you very much for your help.
A: You’re welcome. Thank you for calling.

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
UNIT 1 Recording 7
1
I’d like to enquire about a course.
2
I was wondering if it would be possible for me to change to that group.
3
Can you tell me why I have to do it in person?

4
Would there be any chance of doing the level test on the phone?
5
Do you mind me asking what it involves?
6
I’d be really grateful if you could hold a place for me till Saturday morning.
7
Would you mind putting that in an email for me?
8
Could you tell me when the school opens?

UNIT 1 Recording 8
I’m not the kind of person who likes to be a daredevil or do anything too
exciting. But the most incredible thing I think I’ve ever done was when I went
skydiving. So we went up in a tiny plane. I mean it’s so small so it was quite
scary. And the build-up was just epic.
I was attached to another guy, an expert, by a harness. And I was sitting in
front of him in this sort of, it was like a, a tiny tube little plane. And we went
higher and higher and higher. And um, the suspense was building up. And
then suddenly they just open this door and you’re flying through the sky, and
you can just see for miles. And it’s freezing cold and the thing I’ll remember
most is the cold air hitting my teeth, ’cos it was just absolutely freezing. And
er, we sort of scuttled out to the edge and our legs were dangling through the

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 Upper Intermediate Unit 1 audio script
door of the plane. And erm, he just said, I remember him shouting, he just
said ‘Smile!’ ’Cos there was a camera guy as well, so you can film it.
And we just, we sort of fell forward and we were just spinning, until he sort of
levels you out. It was like I was completely weightless. And it didn’t feel like
you were falling at all, you were just sort of hovering. And it was still freezing
cold on my teeth as well like that. And then the parachute, I remember lifting
out. And it just sort of pulled me all up – I was like Oh! Ugh!, like that. And we
started spinning round, you know he was doing all these kind of tricks and
stuff. And that’s when I started feeling sick, ’cos it was spinning so fast. But it
was just so much fun, it was hilarious, I was laughing, you know even though I
felt sick it was just the experience of it all and the adrenaline rush. It was one
of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. And it’s an activity I’d like to
recommend to all my friends because I know they’d absolutely love it, it’s
hilarious.

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